The incident happened in April 2010 and is currently at the center of a lawsuit that claims police officers acted improperly.

Several NOPD officers entered the home of Brian Harris, located in the 7700 block of Allison Road, after Harris' wife called 911. Moments later, those officers used two Tasers -- and then a service revolver -- against Harris.

The incident was recorded by cameras mounted on the Taser devices, and it is that recorded evidence that was sealed by Judge Sarah Vance in an order entered into the record on Dec. 7.

The order grants a motion from the City to prevent the release of the video.

It is a significant reversal of the position taken by former police Supt. Warren Riley, who is a defendant in the ongoing litigation filed by Harris' family.

Shortly after the shooting, Riley told WDSU: "I'm sure at some point the video will be released and people will judge for themselves, but there is a video, yes."

Riley also said the FBI would review the shooting to ensure proper procedure was followed.

But Jason Williams and Nicole Burdett, who represent Harris' family in the lawsuit, told WDSU they see the move to contain the video as a means of protecting the department and concealing what they call a "horrific" act of misconduct.

"Usually when you are doing something right, they want everybody to see it, you want all cameras on you, you want every media outlet to cover it (and) to see that you are doing the right thing," Williams told the WDSU I-Team on Wednesday. "So if the suggestion is 'we didn't do anything wrong, we did everything the way it was supposed to be done,' you think you'd want everyone to see it -- to know NOPD is doing a good job.

"I think it is the biggest contradiction ever -- especially given the fact the police chief at the time said it would be released and the public would be able to judge for themselves."

Judge Vance's order notes that the recording shall be under seal for "60 days following a final resolution of this case, after which time the Exhibits shall be returned to the New Orleans Police Department through the City Attorney's Office."

The lawsuit will explore exactly what happened at Harris' home.

Officer Stephen McGee fired the shots that killed Harris, who was locked inside his bedroom when police arrived. Officers said they took action when Harris threatened them with a knife.

Attorneys for the family claim the officers used unnecessary force, failing to identify that they were the police and attempting to break down the bedroom door rather than speak with Harris.

Williams and Burdett claim the officers were aware upon their arrival that Harris suffered from mental health issues.

City spokesman Ryan Berni denied that officials were attempting to hide anything.

"We are not trying to hide the video tapes," he said in a statement. "It will come out at the proper time, in the proper context, at trial."

Though the incident took place under prior administrations at City Hall and the NOPD, Mayor Mitch Landrieu and police Supt. Ronal Serpas are named among the defendants.

City attorneys had also filed a motion to dismiss the case, but Vance denied it.